Local businessman stabbed to death

CRIME SCENE: The entrance to the rondavel in the backyard of 3 Alfred Road, where a man was stabbed to death in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The crime scene tape has since been removed Picture: ANTHONY TARR

A PORT Alfred man was stabbed to death at a house in Alfred Road in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Word spread quickly about the murder of local businessman Noel Maddocks, with a number of residents calling TotT to express their shock.

Police spokeswoman Captain Mali Govender confirmed the incident and said police had arrested a male suspect in his 40s.

She said Maddocks’ next of kin still had to be notified at the time of ToT’s enquiry, but word had already spread like wildfire through Wednesday.

“We are investigating a case of murder,” Govender said, and would not speculate on the circumstances of the crime.

Neighbour Tony Tarr told TotT they had been awakened by the sound of a car engine and a slamming door at about 1.30am.

“The next thing we heard, about half an hour later, was a commotion from all the police vans that showed up. I never knew there were so many police cars in this town,” Tarr said.

“Police were running up and down the street with torches and I think they even had police dogs there. It lasted about two hours.”

Tarr said the home was rented and knew of a man and woman who lived there.

TotT also heard that two women who may have witnessed the crime were receiving counselling for trauma.